Nationals 6, White Sox 4: Alex Colomé walked off

The followed-from-work bullet-point recap:

*Alex Colomé is just about invincible in save situations this season, but he’s been closer to mortal in other appearances. This one qualified as an “other” appearance, as he entered the ninth of a 4-4 game, walked the first batter, then gave up a walk-off homer to Trea Turner on a full-count fastball.

*Going to Colomé was the right call, but Rick Renteria made a poor decision in the top of the ninth when he pinch-hit for the pitcher’s spot with Ryan Cordell after Tim Anderson’s leadoff single, only to call for the bunt anyway. Cordell bunted into a fielder’s choice out, and that was an out the Sox couldn’t afford to give. Jose Rondón singled Anderson to second, but both Leury García and Yoan Moncada — swinging right-handed against Sean Doolittle — struck out to end the threat.

*Renteria’s rationale left a lot to be desired, too:

*The White Sox did get to see what Washington’s bullpen problems were all about, as Jose Abreu and Welington Castillo tied the game with back-to-back homers in the eighth inning. Abreu’s was a two-run shot, while Castillo’s was his third eighth-inning homer out of four.

*While the White Sox offense had to climb out of a 4-1 hole, the non-pitchers didn’t exactly bring stellar defense to the table. The Nationals loaded the bases in the fourth when Juan Soto surprised Dylan Covey with a bunt past him, Yolmer Sanchez clanked a Howie Kendrick grounder on the shortstop side of second, and Eloy Jiménez made hash of Matt Adams’ fly down the line with an awkward sliding attempt. Covey limited the damage to a run.

*Dylan Covey did what he could, holding the Nats to two runs on seven hits and a walk over five innings, striking out four. He supposedly wasn’t feeling his best.

*Jace Fry started the Nats’ two-run sixth with a five pitch walk, as his control continues to hurt him. Evan Marshall came in and gave up the ugliest cued double over first base to Kurt Suzuki. Fry’s runner scored on a sac fly, and then Tim Anderson allowed Marshall’s first run in a White Sox uniform by dropping a pop-up behind second base. He had to retreat for it from his original drawn-in positioning, but he still had time to park under it. He just didn’t track it well.

*Aaron Bummer restored order with two scoreless innings, although he had to overcome his own throwing error in the eighth.

*Anibal Sánchez kept the Sox off the board, save another Moncada homer. Moncada almost hit two of them, but Soto flagged down a deep drive on the track.

*Sánchez allowed just one run over 5⅓ innings, recording seven strikeouts. That said, after the Sox loaded the bases with nobody out in the second and failed to score — Anderson struck out, Yolmer Sánchez lined to third, with Castillo too far off the bag — it’s not like they deserved better.

Record: 29-32 | Box score | Highlights

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Flitcraft

Does Anderson even score from second on Rondon’s single if Cordell had gotten down a successful bunt? Because that was Renteria’s best case scenario. Fairly much how they drew it up in the dugout.

Everyone’s got a plan until the closer* gives up a two-run dong.

PauliePaulie

Ricky really enjoys dumping on his players after questionable bunt calls. Favorite was him blaming Engel for striking out on a bunt last year.

Respect to Fegan for continually pressing RR on his rationale.

PauliePaulie

Kimbrel getting at least $43mil.

ImmortalTimeTravelMan

If we hadn’t signed Santana or Alonso we could have afforded that deal….

35Shields

I mean those deals sucked, but they cost like 25% of Kimbrel’s deal

Trooper Galactus

Total, yes. For 2019, they’re not that far off. Of course, there was no way Kimbrel would take that deal if the White Sox were offering it in the offseason.

gibby32

And we want him why?

gibby32

I am happy with this deal, since I don’t like Kimbrel. The Cubs are a fine spot for him.

Right Size Wrong Shape

Part of me enjoys when they spend big money, because Theo’s free agents often fail spectacularly.